Wheel for a support structure

Abstract

A wheel assembly for a tire includes a circular hub member for securing to a rotatable axle of a vehicle, an annular first rim piece for engaging the tire, the first rim piece being secured to a first axial end of the circular hub member, an annular second rim piece for engaging the tire, the second rim piece being secured to an opposite second axial end of the circular hub member, a plurality of cylindrical bolts for engaging both the first rim piece and the second rim piece, the cylindrical bolts each engaging the first rim piece, the second rim piece, and a spoke structure of the tire; and a threaded tension bolt for varying a radial position of a first axial end of one of the cylindrical bolts relative to a first elongate opening of the first rim piece.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. A wheel assembly for a tire for mounting on a rotatable axle of a vehicle, the tire including a spoke structure having spoke loops, the wheel assembly comprising:
 a circular hub member for securing to the rotatable axle of the vehicle; 
 an annular first rim piece for engaging the tire, the first rim piece being secured to a first axial end of the circular hub member; 
 an annular second rim piece for engaging the tire, the second rim piece being secured to an opposite second axial end of the circular hub member; 
 a plurality of cylindrical bolts for engaging both the first rim piece and the second rim piece, the cylindrical bolts each engaging the first rim piece, the second rim piece, and the spoke structure of the tire; and 
 a threaded tension bolt for varying a radial position of a first axial end of one of the cylindrical bolts relative to a first elongate opening of the first rim piece. 
 
     
     
       2. The wheel assembly as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the first rim piece has an axially extending cylindrical first rim flange. 
     
     
       3. The wheel assembly as set forth in  claim 2  wherein the second rim piece has an axially extending cylindrical second rim flange. 
     
     
       4. The wheel assembly as set forth in  claim 3  wherein the first elongate opening of the first rim piece is axially aligned with a corresponding second elongate openings of the second rim piece. 
     
     
       5. The wheel assembly as set forth in  claim 1  wherein each of the cylindrical bolts has a radially outer surface for engaging the spoke loops of the tire. 
     
     
       6. The wheel assembly as set forth in  claim 4  wherein the first and second elongate openings are radially and circumferentially secured and fixed in axially aligned relative positions by one of the cylindrical bolts and a corresponding threaded tension bolt. 
     
     
       7. The wheel assembly as set forth in  claim 1  further including a a load collar for applying a measured external load to the cylindrical bolts, and a lock nut for fixedly securing the tension bolt to a first axial end of one of the cylindrical bolts. 
     
     
       8. The wheel assembly as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the tension bolt is threadedly adjusted to vary a radial position of the first axial end of one of the cylindrical bolts relative to the first elongate opening of the first rim piece. 
     
     
       9. The wheel assembly as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the first and second rim pieces are constructed of a metal. 
     
     
       10. The wheel assembly as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the first and second rim pieces are constructed of a polymer. 
     
     
       11. A method for supporting a vehicle load, the method comprising the steps of:
 axially engaging first ends of cylindrical bolts with a first rim piece; 
 axially engaging second ends of the cylindrical bolts with a second rim piece; 
 axially and radially engaging loop members of a tire assembly by outer cylindrical surfaces of the cylindrical bolts; 
 inserting one axial end of each cylindrical bolt through a first elongate opening in the first rim piece; and 
 inserting an opposite axial end of each cylindrical bolt through a corresponding second elongate opening in the second rim piece. 
 
     
     
       12. The method as set forth in  claim 11  further including a step of securing a plurality of tension bolts to a respective end of the cylindrical bolts. 
     
     
       13. The method as set forth in  claim 11  further including a step of securing a circular hub member to the first rim piece thereby allowing rotational attachment to a vehicle. 
     
     
       14. The method as set forth in  claim 11  further including a step of arraying a plurality of first elongate openings circumferentially about the first rim piece. 
     
     
       15. The method as set forth in  claim 14  further including a step of arraying a plurality of second elongate openings circumferentially about the second rim piece. 
     
     
       16. The method as set forth in  claim 11  further including a step of radially and circumferentially fixing the first rim piece to the second rim piece in axially aligned relative positions by the cylindrical bolts and a tension bolt. 
     
     
       17. The method as set forth in  claim 11  further including a step of engaging a cylindrical outer surface of each of the cylindrical bolts by a corresponding loop of a tire. 
     
     
       18. The method as set forth in  claim 11  further including a step of permanently securing a tension bolt to each opposite end of the cylindrical bolts. 
     
     
       19. The method as set forth in  claim 11  further including a step of adjusting tension in loops of a tire by radially varying each axial end of each cylindrical bolt. 
     
     
       20. The method as set forth in  claim 11  further including a step of maintaining flat contact between a loop of a tire and a semi-cylindrical retainer.